Page 258 of Vexatious Queen

“The charges won’t hold up. Those drugs aren’t mine,” Sabastian growled.

I crossed my arms and smiled.

“I know that, and you know that, but they don’t know that,” I said, nodding toward the closed door.

“My father will get me out of here,” he said.

“No. No, I don’t think he will. You see, those drugs belong to your father.”

Sabastian’s face fell.

“I’m not sure about you, but I doubt he loves you enough to throw himself under the bus for you. It would be so beautiful for him to try, but I just have a feeling he is more about self-preservation. Like a rat or a cockroach in a flood.”

He shook his head. “Why? Why are you doing this?”

“We both know why,” I said.

“Is this because of what happened with Yuliana?” He banged his forehead on the bars. “Did she put you up to this?”

“Um…no.” I snorted. “She actually wanted to talk to you. And Ren, for some stupid reason, loves you. But here is the thing, Sabastian—I see you,” I said and let the weight of my words sit with him. “I see you because you are me three years ago. Filled with so much rage and mistrust, blaming all the wrong people, and willing to do anything to get even. You want to take back the power you feel you’ve lost. Not just now, in your entire life, and you don’t care who you hurt to make it happen.”

“That’s not true,” he said, but his words didn’t hold any conviction.

“It is, which is why I had to do this. I can’t take the chance that you’re going to stupidly decide that Ren or Yuliana, or anyone else I care about, is the reason for the skid you’re on and act out.”

“I wouldn’t do that. I was angry, but I wouldn’t have hurt Ren,” he said.

“Maybe. Maybe not. But your father told you that Yuliana was your mother, then switched the story. Now he has you all fired up that she killed your real mother and abandoned you. I mean, really? How fucking gullible are you? If he told you she was really a vampire, would you try to stake her through the heart? You gonna drive off a cliff if he tells you to? Wake the fuck up, man.”

He looked down, his hands tightening around the bars.

“Please don’t do this to me,” he pleaded.

“It’s already done. I can’t take it back. But look on the bright side, you’ll know someone in the local prison since you and your father put Zigzag there.” I shook my head. “Karma is a real bitch.”

“Fuck you, Nash. I’m going to get out of here. And when I do, I’ll find you and kill you.”

“Well, I’ll be sure to watch out for you in twenty years.” I turned away but looked back. “Don’t worry, I’ll let Coach Richards know you can’t make practice and will have to drop from the team.” I smiled, and Sabastian roared, shaking the bars.

“Let me out of here!”

I knocked once.

“I’m going to make you pay for this! I swear to you, Nash. You will fucking pay,” Sabastian yelled.

Franks opened the door, and I followed him to the exit.

I stepped outside and stopped on the walkway, taking a deep breath of the fresh spring air. A fancy Mercedes flew into the parking lot, and I smirked when Christov climbed out. He marched toward me, scowl set firmly in place. I put my hands in my pockets and calmly waited for him to reach me.

“What the hell are you doing here?”

Looking up at the sparkling, clear night sky, I let out a self-satisfied sigh.

“Just visiting your son. He has himself in a right jam. I have no idea how you will get him out of this one.”

Christov narrowed his eyes at me. I could see him wondering what I meant and if I had anything to do with this. I gave him nothing. Sabastian could fill him in.

“Well, I’d better be going,” I said, and walked to my truck.